Circulating cleaning device for spray gun nozzles



Sept. 25, 1951 c. COSTANTINO CIRCULATING CLEANING yDEVICE FOR SPRAY GUN NOZZLES F'ileg Sept. 18, 1948 l l l I I INV E N TOR CELESTINO COSTANTINO Patented Sept. 25, 1951 UNITED STATESPAT'ENT OFFICE .spaar GUN NozzLnsv u v Celestino Costantino,` OrlandogFla. Applicationseptember 18, l1948, Serial No. 49,900

This invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning spray guns, in which a cleansing fluid is placed, and by means of which both internal and external portions of the gun may be cleaned without loss of fluid during a cleansing operation.

Broadly it is an object of this invention to provide a metallic apparatus for cleaning spray guns consisting generally of a tank having an open top reservoir portion, an open top auxiliary tank formed at one end thereof, for reception of a spray gun stem, and having aperture connection with the reservoir for flow of cleansing fluid therebetween, a hooded lid enclosure for said open reservoir top, an opening in one end of the hooded portion of said lid for insertion of a spray gun nozzle and an open end funnel portion extended below said lid for return of fluid to the reservoir.

rl'his invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement and relative location of parts, all in accordance with the disclosure herein.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure l is a top plan view of this invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, partially broken away, and illustrating a spray gun of cnventional type in position for internal cleansing.

Figure 3 is an end view thereof.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 Figure 1, in the direction of the arrows.

The true nature and manner of use of this invention will be best understood by a detailed description of the form thereof shown in the drawings in an illustrative sense.

This invention includes an open top tank portion A forming a reservoir for deposit of a quantity of cleansing fluid, said tank being rectangular in shape and having a rounded rim 2 around its top edge, an auxiliary tank 3 formed at one end of the reservoir tank and above the lowermost level thereof and communication between said reservoir and auxiliary tank below the fluid level thereof thru means of apertures 4 in the wall 5, which separates said reservoir and auxiliary tank, and vertically spaced from the bottom of the reservoir to prevent sediment, resulting from cleaning operations, which has settled inthe bottom of the reservoir, from flowing into the auxiliary tank.

'Enclosure for the open top of the reservoir is in the form of a lid 6 having a flange 1 around its underside, the rear portion` of the flange being curled outward and upward as at 8 for engagement with the rear rim 2 of the reservoir A, thereby, forming a hinge-like contact for swinging movement of said lid. Forming a, part of the lid 6 is an angular shaped hood portion 9 which is narrow in width, as related to said lid, and which is formed into the rear portion of said lid, and extended therefrom to vertical alignment with the outer wall I I of the auxiliary tank, purpose of this narrow structure being to confine spray from the gun nozzle I8 to a small area thereby reducing evaporation of the spray, the end of said hood so aligned having an opening Il for reception of a gun nozzle in an elevated relation to a gravity discharge area thereof. Further forming a part of the lid 6 and extended thereunder is a funnel portion 2 I, which is actually an extension of the hood portion 9 and which is extended into the reservoir thereby forming an open passage between the reservoir and hood for drainage of the hood.

Reference to Figure 2 will teach that in the use of this apparatus for internal cleaning of a conventional spray gun G the gun suction tube I2 is inserted in fluid in the auxiliary tank 3 thru the open top thereof, and the nozzle I8 inserted into the opening I 0 of hood 9 and directed toward the rear sloped and curved baille wall I4, it is therefore obvious that as the gun is placed into normal operation by opening of a conventional air inlet to a mixing chamber (not shown) thru means of a trigger such as indicated by I5 fluid is sucked from the auxiliary tank 3 thru tube I2 to the gun mixing chamber and blown therefrom thru the nozzle I8 to the sloped wall I4, a purpose for sloping and curving said wall being to minimize return of spray toward the opening Il. As baille wall I4 is sprayed it becomes atmosphercally cooled, thereby, forming a surface condenser by means of which the spray is reconverted to a fluid, whence, it is gravity returned to the reservoir thru the open funnel portion 2I.

It is obvious that soaking of the exterior of the gun for cleaning purpose may be accomplished by raising the lid 6 and immersing the gun in the fluid therein.

As a matter of convenience there is also provided a faucet I 6 for flow of fluid from the auxiliary tank.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that thedetails of construction illustrated herein may readily be varied without departure from the novel subject matter herein disclosed. I do not therefore, desire to be limited by the .disclosure but rather by the claims granted me.

What is claimed:

1. A device of the kind described, comprising: a main tank with an open top receiving a cleanf.) 1.-' ing fluid, an auxiliary tank communicating with the main tank above the lowe'rmost area and below a fluid level therein, a hood having an inclined bottom with a gravity discharge area extending within said open top adapted to receive a spray gun nozzle elevated with respect to said gravity discharge area with its suction tube extended within the auxiliary tank, and a sloping baille wallnext' to Athe gravity discharge areazi'n confronting relation to' said gun nozzlewhen it is engaged in said hood.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising:

a' main tank with an open top. receivingua.,clean-- ing fluid, an auxiliary tank communicatingwith the main tank above the lowermost area and below a uid level therein, a hood havinganiinclined bottom with a gravitydischarge.area extending Within said open top adaptedv to receive a. spray gun nozzle elevated with respectito said gravity discharge area with its suction tube ex- 4 tended within the auxiliary tank, a sloping baille wall next to the gravity discharge area in confronting relation to said gun nozzle when it is engaged in said hood, and a lid fitting the open top xedly carrying the hood.

CELESTINO COSTANTINO.

'REFEREN CES CITEDy The following references are of' record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

